See also

Seed Money (Formerly Kitchen Gardeners International)

Deadline: November 12th, 2017

SeedMoney is a great way to catapult your garden’s sustainable fundraising plan. They are offering 125 $400 grants this year. 75 of these will “Challenge Grants” awarded to the first 75 projects that are able to raise $600 via their crowdfunding pages during SeedMoney’s 30-day challenge period running from November 15 to December 15. The other 50 will be “Merit Grants” that are more like traditional grants that don’t require that groups raise any funds of their own. Projects that don’t win Challenge Grants will automatically be considered for Merit Grants. Groups get to keep whatever funds they raise via their crowdfunding page whether or not they reach their funding target.

IOBY

If you’ve ever considered the possibility of crowd-funding to support your community garden or urban farm but weren’t sure how to start, the answer is now in your backyard. ioby.org, an environmental nonprofit, has just announced its national expansion after a successful NYC pilot fully funded nearly 2000 community-led parks, garden, biking, hiking, composting and chicken projects across the city. ioby (its name derived from the opposite of NIMBY) intends to connect people to environmental projects in their own neighborhoods. And, in fact, most ioby micro-donors give on average $35, live within 2 miles of the project site they’re supporting and regularly volunteer with the project.

2017 Youth Garden Grant Award

NGA awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. Priority will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of these elements:

Integration of content standards,

Nutrition connections,

Environmental awareness,

Entrepreneurship, and

Social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning.

Website: http://grants.kidsgardening.org/garden-grants

SARE Farmer Grants

Deadline: TBD

Farmer Grants are for commercial producers who have an innovative idea they want to test using a field trial, on-farm demonstration, marketing initiative, or other technique. A technical advisor–often an extension agent, crop consultant, or other service professional–must also be involved. Projects should seek results other farmers can use, and all projects must have the potential to add to our knowledge about effective sustainable practices.

Proposal deadlines are in early winter with awards announced in March. If the current application is not yet available (see the “for applicants” box to the right), you should feel free to browse this section until the new application is posted in September.

2017 Project Orange Thumb Online Grant

Deadline: TBD

Project Orange Thumb is a community garden grant program that provides tools and resources to help communities reach their goals for collaboration, neighborhood beautification, and healthy, sustainable food sources. Fiskars has provided over $1.6 million to more than 180 community groups since the program started in 2002. The application is open to non-profit organizations in North America late in the year and grant recipients are announced in spring of the following year.

Awesome Foundation

Deadline: OPEN

The Awesome Foundation is now taking applications for its $1,000 microgrants to further awesomessness in the universe. Check out your city’s chapter and see what initiatives they’re looking for then apply! Every month, one microgrant will be given for an awesome idea. The more inventive the better.

OCIA Research & Education Micro Grants

Deadline: March 15th and November 15th

OCIA International (Organic Crop Improvement Association) offers grants in the range of $300 to $1,500 for organic research, organic education, and other ideas supporting organic agriculture. Projects must benefit multiple producers, processors and/or consumers. There may be limitations on the number of grants given within any one region.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets

Deadline: Multiple

For: Vermont

VAAFM facilitates, supports and encourages the growth and viability of agriculture in Vermont while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers and the environment.

Simply Organic 1% Fund

Deadline: October 31st each year

Simply Organic has given more than a million dollars to organic research, education and grower development projects since the Simply Organic 1% Fund was established in 2001. One percent of all Simply Organic sales go into the fund, which supports training and community projects for organic farmers where our spices are grown, as well as a variety of organizations and events that study, support and promote organic agriculture.

New England Grassroots Environmental Fund Seed Grants

Deadline: Open

Grants are intended to support community groups who represent the most exciting energy in the environmental movement that are not being reached by traditional funders. Project budgets generally less than $10,000 and has not received a Seed grant within one year of the current application.

NRAEF is the leading scholarship provider for the restaurant and foodservice industry and sponsors several awards for educators–$1,750 in foodservice/hospitality who are interested in complementing classroom time with hands-on operational experience or attend a NRAEF Summer Institute; undergrads–$2,500 and up for those who are already enrolled in postsecondary education; and high school seniors–$2,500 and up for those who want to study for jobs in the foodservice industry.

SARE Partnership Grants/Sustainable Community Grants

Deadline: coming soon

Partnership Grants are reserved for agricultural service providers–extension staff, nonprofits, consultants, state departments of agriculture, and others working in the agricultural community–who want to conduct on-farm demonstrations, research, marketing, and other projects with farmers as active cooperators.